Why 90,000 South Africans booked local cruises in 2024/2025
Local cruises among South Africans are gaining popularity, with over 90,000 travellers embracing ocean-bound getaways in the 2024/2025 summer season.
Image: File picture
As more South Africans are looking for holiday experiences that combine value, adventure, and comfort, one travel style is steadily gaining favour, local seasonal cruises around South Africa's east and west coasts.
The 2024–2025 summer season saw over 90,000 South Africans embrace this rising trend, heading off on ocean-bound getaways across the region.
Travellers set sail from local ports to explore the tropical coastline of Mozambique, Reunion and Mauritius, and the desert-meets-sea coastline of Namibia on the MSC Musica, the 3 200-passenger liner that cruised South African waters for the last season.
With itineraries designed to appeal to a wide variety of preferences—from laid-back beach breaks to cultural explorations—cruising continues to make a strong impression on both new and returning guests.
According to Ross Volk, Managing Director of MSC Cruises South Africa, anticipation is already building for the 2025–2026 season. "We are very pleased to see our loyal customers return to cruise with us every new season and we appreciate their support.
'It is also great to see new travellers discovering cruising as an alternative holiday which offers good value for money. The demand for cruising locally continues to show growth," he says.
Four main routes operate out of Durban and Cape Town. The Durban-to-Mozambique voyage remains a top choice for South Africans, while the Cape Town-to-Walvis Bay journey has proven especially popular among international visitors.
Additional routes include Durban-to-Mauritius and Durban-to-Cape Town, each offering unique cultural and scenic experiences.
The upcoming season will be marked by the return of a popular MSC Opera to local waters. After completing a Mediterranean stint, MSC Opera will begin her second season here with 37 sailings scheduled between November 2025 and April 2026.
'We have made two exciting additions to the upcoming season,' Volk shares. 'An extension to the season, which will offer guests the opportunity to book an additional departure in November, and we have introduced Mamoudzou as a new destination. Mamoudzou is a beautiful city on the coast of Mayotte, another great destination for our guests to discover.'
With familiar favourites and new destinations on the horizon, the upcoming cruising season promises to be even more popular with South African cruisers.
IOL Travel
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